Kitty Neale 3 Book Bundle. Kitty Neale

breakfast.

      However, just then Celia heard footsteps coming downstairs, then Thomas walked into the room, saying cheerily, ‘Morning, Mum.’

      ‘Thomas, you should have stayed in bed. I was about to make your breakfast and bring it up to you.’

      ‘There’s no need. I’m all right now; fit enough for work if I hadn’t overslept.’

      ‘Don’t be silly. Work can wait until you’re fully recovered.’

      ‘I’ve had enough time off, and though Dad hasn’t said anything, I know he’s busy.’

      ‘He can manage, and if you rest over the weekend you may be well enough on Monday.’

      ‘I’m fine now, and I’m seeing Amy again tonight.’

      ‘I don’t think that’s wise,’ she said, thinking quickly. ‘You were over-tired when you came home last night. If you really want to return to work on Monday you must stay in and take it easy until then.’

      ‘There’s no need for that, Mum. I told you I’m fine so please stop fussing.’

      Celia thought Thomas sounded just like his father and annoyed she said, ‘When you’re ill, it’s me who has to look after you, running up and down stairs, wearing myself out to cater for your every need. You don’t call it fussing then.’

      Thomas blinked, looked surprised by her outburst, but then said, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. I am.’

      ‘Then don’t accuse me of fussing when I’m just trying to make sure you don’t do too much before you’re fully recovered.’

      ‘I shouldn’t have said that, and I’m sorry,’ Thomas said, apologising again.

      Mollified, Celia said, ‘You’re forgiven, but I don’t want you to go out on Saturday night. I’ve invited the Willards to dinner and as Melissa is coming too, it would be nice for her to have someone of her own age to talk to.’

      ‘I’d rather go out with Amy.’

      ‘You’ll have seen Amy for two nights by then, and as I’ve already told Melissa that you’ll be here, it would look very rude if you went out.’

      ‘You could invite Amy too.’

      Celia was appalled and made an excuse. ‘I’m afraid I can’t do that. It would upset the numbers, and the dining table only seats six.’

      ‘But …’

      ‘Thomas,’ Celia interrupted, doing her best to look upset, ‘I’m really looking forward to this dinner party, so please don’t ruin it for me.’

      ‘Oh, all right. I suppose I can see Amy on Sunday.’

      ‘Thank you, darling. Now, what would you like for breakfast?’

      ‘A boiled egg would be nice.’

      Celia went through to the kitchen, smiling that she had got her own way.

      At eleven o’clock, Phyllis at last took her turn to see the doctor. There had been quite a lot of people in front of her when she’d arrived, and at first she’d been tempted to leave, but the walk to the surgery had worn her out so she’d sunk gratefully onto an empty seat.

      ‘How are you, Mrs Miller?’ the doctor asked, indicating a chair to the side of his desk while taking out her scant notes.

      Phyllis wasn’t surprised that there was little for him to read. She was rarely ill and couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen Dr Trent. ‘I’m not feeling too well. I fainted recently, and I feel tired all the time.’

      ‘Have you any other symptoms, shortness of breath, chest pains?’

      ‘No, nothing like that.’

      He leaned forward to pull down her lower eyelid and then said, ‘You may be anaemic. Take off your coat and top please. I’ll examine your chest.’

      Phyllis felt embarrassed, but did as Dr Trent asked. When she was ready he turned to look at her and frowned. ‘You look severely underweight. Have you got a cough and if so, have you coughed up any blood?’

      Startled, Phyllis wondered if he thought she had tuberculosis. Her voice trembled as she replied, ‘I haven’t got a cough, so no.’

      Nevertheless he put his stethoscope to his ears and moved round to her back, telling her to breathe in and out naturally. He did the same at the front, removed the stethoscope and then pinched the skin on her forearm between his finger and thumb. ‘Get dressed and sit down again, Mrs Miller.’

      Phyllis found her hands shaking so much that she had difficulty fastening her buttons. Tuberculosis, no please, not that, she inwardly prayed.

      At last she was dressed and as she sat down again Dr Trent said, ‘Your chest is clear, but you’re anaemic and from what I can see, severely undernourished.’

      ‘I … I haven’t got TB?’

      ‘No, Mrs Miller, we can rule that out. However, I’m concerned about your weight. Have you got a problem with your digestion, pain when you eat?’

      ‘No, I haven’t.’

      ‘Any vomiting or diarrhoea?’

      Once again Phyllis said no, and Dr Trent leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment, before saying, ‘Mrs Miller, are you actually eating anything?’

      ‘Yes, yes, of course.’

      ‘Well, clearly not enough,’ he said. ‘You look like you’ve been deliberately starving yourself. That isn’t the case is it?’

      ‘Of course it isn’t,’ she said indignantly.

      ‘Is it that you can’t afford to eat properly?’

      ‘Well, I must admit I’ve been a bit short lately, but things have changed and I’ll have a bit more money now.’

      ‘I’m glad to hear it, because continued undernourishment can lead to serious problems,’ he said, before scribbling out a prescription. ‘Take these pills for your anaemia and come back in a month. By which time I want to see that you’ve put on weight. ’

      ‘Yes, doctor,’ Phyllis said, feeling a huge sense of relief as she left the surgery to walk home. Deep down she’d been worried about her tiredness, had thought she had something seriously wrong with her, but it was just lack of proper food and anaemia. She would only tell Stan and Amy about the anaemia and say that the pills would soon put her right. Her daughter could stop worrying, and tonight she’d try to be the peacemaker between Amy and her father.

      ‘Amy, cheer up,’ Carol said at work during a quick break mid-morning. ‘All right, you fell out with your dad, and your mum had a go at you, but it’s not the end of the world. They dote on you so all you’ve got to do is apologise when you get home and it’ll be over and done with.’

      ‘I hope so,’ Amy said.

      ‘Is your mum in a state about Winnie Morrison?’ Carol asked. ‘Come to that, are you?’

      ‘It was awful to see her like that, and I was at first, but I’m all right now. She was a nice old lady, but I didn’t really have that much to do with her. Mum was really upset though and now I’ve gone and made things worse.’

      Fed up of hearing about Amy’s fall out with her parents, Carol changed the subject. ‘The week has dragged, but it’s Friday at last and tonight I’m going out to dinner with Roy.’

      ‘And I’m seeing Tommy,’ Amy said, at last smiling.

      ‘Where is he taking you?’ Carol asked.

      ‘I don’t know, probably just for another walk but it won’t be a long one. Tommy’s a lot better, but he tires quickly.’

      Carol thought it sounded boring.